MUSIC concerts can still be held at Matterley Bowl after licence holders reached a deal with police.

Hampshire Constabulary raised several concerns about crime and disorder at the venue near Winchester.

As a result, police asked Winchester City Council to review the licence.

Councillors met on Thursday (August 4) and had the power to suspend events at Matterley Bowl or stop them completely.

They also heard from residents who wanted a clampdown on the venue, which has staged concerts for more than a decade.

It has included the Homelands, Hi:Fi, Sanctuary and Glade Festivals along with the ill-fated JLS concert in June.

The farmland has also hosted several motocross events including the Motocross of Nations.

Landowner Peveril Bruce has permission to host up to six events with a 15,000 capacity each year.

That is too many according to Alresford residents Frank and Janet Barker, who also came to the meeting.

Mr Barker said: “I would submit this is clearly unreasonable and must be challenged. It’s not fair on the residents.”

He added that 42 complaints about the Glade Festival in 2009 were received by the council.

Mrs Barker said Matterley Bowl, which is part of the newly-created South Downs National Park, was unsuitable for loud music.

She said: “The bass noise goes on all day and all night and people find it distressing. They cannot sleep at night with earplugs in and the windows closed.”

The couple, from Windermere Gardens, urged councillors to reduce the number of shows and the noise.

Police, on the other hand, were more concerned about security.

They wanted male and female staff on all gates for festivals, no sale of ‘legal highs’ on site, and any alcohol to be served in plastic glasses.

Police solicitor Roger Trencher said: “It’s not about trying to punish or cause problems for the licence holder, but if these issues are not resolved the police might take a different approach.”

Matthew Phipps, representing Mr Bruce, said they had spoken to police and were happy to meet their requests.

He added that public opposition to events was not that high and the Barkers were being “unduly sensitive”.

“We are, regrettably, unlikely to satisfy them at any point,” he added.

Councillors took 45 minutes to agree that the licence should remain with the extra police conditions.

The next festival at Matterley Bowl will be Boomtown Fair, which starts today (Thursday, August 11) and lasts four days.

After the meeting, Mrs Barker said: “The decision wasn’t unexpected, but we are being discriminated against in the countryside.”